St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-08
COLOROW.

Chief Colorow, the instigator of the
outbreak of Ute Indians in Colorado,
and leader of those who are now on the
war path in the vicinity of the town of
Meeker, is about seventy years old,
some five feet eight inches in height,
and weighs as much as two hundred
and twenty-five pounds. Moreover, he
is so deaf that it is necessary to shout
in talking to him in order to make him
hear. He is nevertheless a person of
influence, and the bucks who make up
his following are active and able men.
There are two accounts of the origin
of the Ute outbreak. One has it that
the Indians were unfairly treated in a
horse They are accustomed to
have horse race with the white men
in Meeker every year, and the agree
ment is that the losing horse shall go
as a prize to the winning owners. This
year the Indians won, and although it
was their first victory, the losing horse
was withheld from them, it is said,
whereupon they promptly distracted
it, were pursued into the mountains,
and the outbreak resulted. The other
account attributes the outbreak to the
opposition of the Indians to the en-
fOrcement of the game-laws.
After the Meeker massacre in 1879
the Utes were transferred to the Utah
Reservation in Utah, but COlOrOw dis
liked the change, and abandoned the
Reservation almost as soon as he got
there. He returned to the White River
country, which is much better one
for game, and has hunted and traded
about Meeker ever since. At the be-
ginning of the outbreak he had fol-
lowing of forty lodges, but others have
since Joined him, and at last accounts
he was in command of $50 or 200 bucks.
These were all provided with Win
chester repeating rifles and abundant
ammunition, and considering the wild,
mountainous country in which they
were at large, made an enemy not to
be despised Oy the sheriffs, the seven
ty five volunteer cowboys, and the
one or two hundred state troops who
were after them. Militia from Denver
and other towns in the state were
guarding Meeker, which is a town Of
400 inhabitants, two days by stage
from the railroad.
On August 25 news was received that
COlOrOw and his force had been sur
rounded in the POthOle country, fifty
miles from Meeker, and that Governor
Adams had set out from Denver for the
scene of action. Although surround
ed, it was considered that Colorow was
established in a very strong position,
from which it would be difficult to dis
lodge him. 1t was reported that he
had refused to confer with anybody
but the Governor. On August 25 Mr..
Mrll e ~, t.
riOr at Washington, telegraphed to
Governor Adams that it was believed
in Washington that if hostile demon
STATIONS against ColorOw should be
suspended, and the chief should be as
sured against attack, he and his fol-
lowers could be induced to return to
the Reservation, and that with the
Governors concurrence the United
States government would Immediately
enter upon the attempt to bring such
result about.
COlOrOw is not at all popular among
the whites, although good many of
his followers are accounted "gOOd" In
dians. He is described by ranchman
near Meeker as ga good general, good
shot, beggar, a gluttOn, and an as
sassin." Another description makes
hin crazy, ulrty, anu OonOXlOuS. lie
has his opinion of the white men. To
ranchman who told him the whites
were thick as grass on the mountains
he replied, "White man heap talk,
heap no fight" He was present at the
Meeker massacre, and at the slaugh-
ter of Major ThOrnburg and his troops
which followed. Of Major Thornburg
and his soldiers he said, "Whito SOL
diers heap fools-aII bunch up" His
form of greeting is, "What's the mat
ter" Coming begging to a ranchman
one day, he said: "What's the mat
teri Me heap hungry, head tired.
No coffee" Having been fed, he rose,
and observed, "Maybe SO, two sleeps,
Colorow come back, burn house, hay,
corral, shoot white man, white mans
pony" COlorOw's original following
owned 800 horses and 1000 sheep,
which always moved along with the
Indians in their roamings. The chiefs
man is MOskowis, usually
called "Gus." He is reputed "good"
Indian, and is liked by the whites. He
is medicine forty-five years
of age.